Wire line guide



June 22, 1954 Filed Nov. 13, 1948 DE 'MONT a. MILLER 2,681,793

WIRE LINE GUIDE 3 Sheets-Sheet l 06' MO/Vf 6. Maze-)9,"

JNVENTOR.

HTTOQNEHS' June 2 1954 DE MONT G. MILLER WIRE LINE GUIDE Filed Nov. 13, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 e w f W w o m E 3 Mm m m 0 W m m w M m g M I 8 4 m 1/111 fm 1r W W A .1, fi m Q m m m 8 5 ,0 6k 3 4 1 I w w 2 s m m a u W June 22, 1954 DE MONT e. MILLER WIRE LINE GUIDE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed; NOV. 13, 1948 0E MON? 6. MI 62,

INVENTOR.

QTTUPNEVS Patented June 22, 1954 WIRE LINE GUIDE De Mont G. Miller, San Marino, Calif., assignor to Byron Jackson C0,, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application November 13, 1948, Serial No. 59,918

This invention relates to the spooling of wire line; It is particularly directed to an improved wire line guidefor insuring proper spooling of a drilling line or cable as employed in a well drilling derrick assembly. The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved wire line guide which may be quickly and easily applied laterally to the drilling line and which will efliciently damp excessive whipping motion of the line, in order that it may spool uniformlyon the spooling drum.

Another object is to provide an improved wire lineguide which employs a plurality of pairs of wire contacting rolls spaced longitudinally of the line and positioned in different planes for effectively dampening lateral oscillations or whipping of the line while offering minimum resistance to vertical movement of the line.

Another object is to provide a wire line guide of this type which may be installed laterally on the drilling line with a minimum of dismantling of the device.

Another object is to provide a wire line guide having novel roller assemblies carried on a frame in such a manner that, though securely anchored in operative position, a worn roller assembly may be quickly and easily replaced without dismantling the roller assembly.

A further object is to provide a wire line guide having an enclosing frame which protects the rollers and their mountings from damage during service, transportation or use. I

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

I In the drawings I Figure 1 is a front elevation showing diagrammatically a well drilling derrick assembly and illustrating a wire line guide in position to dampen transverse whipping motion of the drilling line.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a front elevation partly broken away showing a preferred embodiment of my invention.

Figure 4 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 5 is a side elevation.

Figure 6 is a sectional view partly broken away taken substantially on the lines 6-Ii as shown in Figure 3. I

Referring to the drawings, the wire line guide generally designated I0 is supported in a derrick assembly I I and functions to prevent transverse whipping motion of the drilling line I2. This drilling line is wound on a spooling drum I3 and passes over a crown block I4 and travelling block 13 Claims. (01. 254- 190) I5 in the conventional manner to support a rotary hook assembly I6. The dead end I 2a of the line I2 may extend downwardly from the crown block I4 to any suitable tie down device, not shown. A drill string (not shown) may be suspended from the hook I6. Power means (not shown) are provided for rotating the drum I3 for spooling and unspooling the drilling line I2. Ordinarily the drilling line is fastened at one end to the spooling drum I3 and the first layer of line is spooled directly on the drum. The required travel of the travelling block I5 and the number of line parts extending between the crown and travelling blocks I4 and I5 are such as to require that a relatively large amount of line be spooled upon the drum. Therefore, more than one layer of line is present on the drum when the travelling block I5 is hoisted to the top of its path of travel.

The first layer of line which is spooled directly on the drum has a uniform helical lay, but the second layer and all subsequent layers do not. This is true because the lay of the second layer isopposite to that of the first layer. If the first layer has a right-hand lay the second layer must have a left-hand lay, and therefore the second layer spools partly in the right-hand grooves between adjacent loops on the first layer and partly in left-hand lay as it cranes over loops in the first layer. Therefore, thecable in the second layer spools with a nonuniform motion and proceeds with a series of jerks as the drum is turned. The lay of the third layer is the same as that of the first, but since the lay of the second layer is nonuniform so is the third. This nonuniform lateral movement of the line while spooling each of the layers subsequent to the first sets up vibrations and whipping motion of the moving line in a plane parallel to the axis of rotation of the spooling drum. This whipping motion is not damped out may interfere with spooling of the line; especially at high rotary speeds of the drum, and fouling and resultant damage to the line maythus occur.

The wire line guide I0 is supported in the derrick and constructed in a manner for effectively dampening such vibrations and. whipping motion of the drilling line 42. The device I!) is installed .in'the derrick at a substantial height above the spooling drum I 3, preferably by means of a bridle linell hanging from the support pulley I8. A stationary hanging line I9 carries the support pulley It at its lower end and the upper end of the line is is secured to the derrick assembly I I. The endsof the bridle line I1 are fixed t0 the eyes 20 21. Intermediate spaced pairs of roller assentblies 28 and 29 are also carried on the main body a 25, the axes of the roller assemblies 26 and 21 being positioned at right angles to the axes'of the intermediate roller assemblies 28 and 25. The

roller assemblies 26 and 21 are spaced apart to contact the cable at widely separated points to achieve effective dampening of waves in the cable which exist in a plane parallel to thedrum axis. When the wire line i2 is in position within the guide assembly ill, the roller'assembliescontact it on four sides as shown'clearly in'Fig'ure 4.

The body may comprise anelongatedcylindricalcasing having a pair of integral roller housings 3il'and 3| extending laterally from the-upper end of the casing and a similar pair of roller housings 32 and 33 extending laterally from the lower end of the cylindrical'casing. The upper housings 35 and 3| enclose the upper roller assemblies '26, While the lower, housings 32 and 33 enclosethe lower rollerassemblies 2i. Positioned intermediate the end housings justdescribed and mounted on the body '25 are intermediate housings 34 and '35 for the roller assemblies 28. Similar housings 38 and 31 are provided'on the body 25 for the roller assemblies 21. From this description it will be understood that the -housings30, 3 52 and 53 extend laterally in a plane parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum l3, while'the housings '34, 35, '35 and 3-lextend in a transverse plane at right'angles thereto. It will be noted that the-body 25 is of integral construction'and that likewise the roller housings30 to 31 a're'integral with said body. Thus, whereasa built-up body held'togetherb'y bolts, nuts, orthe like, and

subjected 'to the severe vibration common in spooling operations might'shake apart'and injure personnel of the' drilling crew, due to the integral construction of the body '25 this cannot happen with the instant invention. Likewise since the housings areintegral'with said body, such housings not onlyserve to protect the rollers from damage but also serve to prevent the'rollers themselves from dropping-onto the floor in the event they should be torn from their mountings. -'Additionally, of course, the integration of-housin and body similarly prevents any dropping'of housing portions.

The elongated integral cylindrical body 25 which is adapted to extend axially of and receive therein thecable i 2, may be considered as'formed of opposed pairs of side'members. 'Referring'to Figure 4 the front'and rear side members are indicated by the numerals 25a and 25b respectively, the'front 25a being provided with the slot '38 for permittin transverse application of the devic'eto the cable l2. The right and left side members are indicatedby the numerals 25c and 25d respectively in Figure 3. members the arms 2E8 are secured to extend outwardly therefrom'in a plane normal thereto which plane is intermediately parallerto the planes of the front and rear side members 25aand 25b.

Extending-for the full'length of theb0dy'25 is avertical slot 38 whichpermits the-wire lineguide II] to be applied laterally to the line. The housings 34 and 38 are each provided with removable covers 39 and 4|] so that in the absence of one of the roller assemblies 28 and 33 within the housings 34 and 35 the device l0 may be applied to the wire line through the open slot 38. These covers 39 and 4|] are provided with mounting brackets 4| and 42 which are secured to ears '43 on the body 25 by means of suitable roller pins-4'4 which also support one of each pair of roller assemblies 28 and 29 in position within the housings 34 and 3B.

The arms 2| may be attached to the body 25 in "any convenient manner, and as shown in the To these latter side drawings bosses 45 provide sockets into which the ends of the arms 2| may extend. Bolt assemblies 46 extend through the bosses and inner ends of the arms to secure the arms 2| relative to the bbdy'25. An eye 4'! may be provided on the lower portion of the body 25 for attachment to a safety line (not shown) which limits upward travelof theg-uide assembly Hi in the eve'ntthat the wire line i=2 should bind in the roller'assemblies.

Each of theroller housings is preferably formed integrally with the body 25 and "each includes an arcuate wall 49 spaced from and conforming generally to the contour of the-outer peripheries of the roller assemblies enclosed therein. The sides'of the housingsare defined by parallel side walls 53 extending perpendicular to the axes of the roller assemblies. Reenforcing ribs 5| may be providedto interconnect adjacent roller housings to impart strength and ri idity to the assembly.

It is essential that the roller assemblies -turn freely within their housings at all times regardless of adverseweather or severe operating conditions. It is also important that the roller assemblies becapable of replacement in service in order that drilling operations shall not be delayed. Accordingly, I provide a novel form of roller assembly which provides for both troublefree roller rotation and also for ready replacement when necessary or desirable. All of the individual roller assemblies are substantially duplicates; and accordingly, description of one will suffice. Asshown clearly in Figure 6 of the drawings each rollerassembly comprises a two'- piece core member including 'a central hub 53 and a separable end flange 54 at one end thereof. At the-other end is provided an integral flange 55. A cylindrical roller body 56 of resilient material suchas, forexample, natural or synthetic rubber or rubber composition, is confined between the end flanges 54 and 55. These flanges may be provided with inwardly directed rims 51 at their outer peripheries which interlock with annulargrooves in the roller body 56. Axially spacedxbearings 58 support the hub 53 on a sleeve 59 which has a sliding fit on the support pin 65. Thebearings 58 are preferably of the lubricant retaining type and 'a lubricantreser- -voir is thus provided within the annular space 6| between the bearings 58. Lubricantmay be injected into this reservoir through the fitting 52 by way of the longitudinal passage 63 in the pin '60 and the transverse aligned ports 64 and 65 in the pin and sleeve 59 respectively. The enlarged head 55 on one end of the pin Gil has a sliding fit in a bore 61 provided in oneside wall 50 of the-housing, the other end of the pinfill passing'through a bushing 68 pressed into the bore 69 in the other side wall5ll. The shoulder 'Hlformed at thejuncture of the head portion 66 and the central portionofthepin engages the inner race of one of the bearings 58. The inner race of the other bearing 58 engages the bushing 68. It will be understood from this description that upon tightening of the nut H which is threaded to the end of the pin 60, the sleeve 59 and two bearings 58 are clamped between the shoulder 10 and the bushing 66.

An important feature ofthe construction just described resides in thefact that the head 65 on the pin 60 is freely slidable in the wall of the housing, and consequently the tightening of the nut H has no tendency to draw the opposed walls 50 toward each other. Hence, it is impossible to subject the supporting body structure to distortion or bendingstresses through the action of tightening the nuts which hold the various roller assemblies in position. Afurther advantage is present in the construction just described in that the sleeve 59 and hub 53 constitute a unitized lubricant packed assembly which need not be dismantled when replacing any of the rollers or when removing one of each pair of the rollers 28 and 29 for installing the wire line guide in position on the cable. To remove a roller assembly it is only necessary to unscrew the retaining nut H and then slide the pin 60 to the right as viewed in Figure 6, the bushing 68 remaining in the wall by reason of its press fit. The pin 60 may be withdrawn laterally through the bore 61 and the roller assembly including the sleeve 59 may then be withdrawn as a unit. It will be understood, of course, that the device must be detached from the drilling line l2 before removing the rollers 26 and 21 and before removing one of each pair of the rollers 28 and 29 that lie on the side of the body opposite from the location of the longitudinal slot 38. As shown in Figure 3 the right-hand roller assembly 26 may be removed from its housing after withdrawal of its mounting pin by upward movement in an inclined direction so that it passes between the upper end of the curved wall of its housing and between the other roller assembly 26. During this operation the device is removed from the wire line l2.

' After removal of a roller from the body, re placement of a worn or damaged resilient roller body as may be quickly and easilyeffected simply by removing the retainer ring 12 and the detach" able end flange 54, whereupon the roller body 58 may be withdrawn from the hub 53; Since the resilient roller body 56 is the only element of the assembly which is subject to severeabrasion and consequent wear in service, the nonresilient parts of the assembly may be utilized again and again, it being only necessary to replace the wearing part 56. The easy replacement of the relatively inexpensive resilient roller body 55 results in low maintenance costfor the device and also minimizes the time spent in making repairs.

Having fully described my invention, it is to beunderstood that I do not wish to be limited to the details herein described, but my invention is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

' 1. A cable guide for use with a cable spooled upon a winding drum, comprising in combination a body; a lurality of angularly related cablecontacting unitary roller "assemblies mounted upon the body, each of said unitary assemblies including a sleeve; axially'spacedbearings on said sleeve; a hub carried on the bearings and having an integral flange at one end ;a removable flange secured to the other end of the hub; and a 6i resilient roller body encircling the hub and confined between the flanges, the resilient roller body being axially insertable on the hub in the absence of the removable flange.

2. A roller assembly for a cable guide of the class described, comprising in combination a sleeve; axially spaced bearings on said sleeve; a hub carried on the bearings and having an integral flange at one end; a removable flange se cured to the other end of the hub; a resilient roller body encircling the hub and confined between the flanges, the resilient roller body being axially insertable on the hub in the absence of the removable flange.

3. A roller assembly for a cable guide of the class described, comprising in combination a sleeve; axially spaced hearings on said sleeve; a hub carried on the bearings and cooperating with the sleeve to define a lubricant reservoir between the bearings; port means in the sleeve for in jection of lubricant into the reservoir,the hub havingan integral flange at one end; a removable flange secured to the other end of the hub;and aresilient roller body encircling the hub and confined between the flanges, the resilient roller body being axially insertable on the hub in the absence of the removable flange. 1

e. In a cable-guide for the spooling drumof a rotary drilling rig; an integral body definingan elongated cylindrical casing adapted. to extend axially of and receive therein a cable to be spooled upon said drum; a pair of outwardly extending roller enclosure housings formedintegrally with said body and spaced longitudinally thereof on each of two opposite sides of said body; a unitary roller assembly mounted within each of said housings, and means mounting each unitary roller assembly for removal from its housing as a unit. I I

5. In a cable guide for the-spooling drum of a rotary drilling rig; an integral body defining an elongated cylindrical casing adapted to extend axially of and receive therein a cable to be spooled upon said drum including spaced parallel side members; two pairs of outwardly extending. integrally formed roller enclosure housings joining said side. members, said pairs being spaced longitudinally thereof; oppositely extending supportingarms formed rigidly on said body projecting therefrom in a plane intermediately parallel to the planes of said side members; a unitary roller assembly mounted within each of said housings on an axis normal to the plane of said side mem bers and said supporting arms; and means mounting each unitary roller assembly for removal from its housing as a unit.

6. In a cable guide for the spooling drum of a rotary drilling rig; an integral body adaptedto extend axially of a cable to be spooled upon said drum including spaced parallel side members; a pair of outwardly extending integrally formed roller enclosure housings joining said side members and spaced longitudinally thereof, and; a unitary roller assembly mounted within each of said housings, each of said unitary assemblies including a sleeve, axially spaced bearings on said sleeve, ahub carried on the bearings and having an integral. flange at one end, a removable flange secured to the other end of the hub, a roller body encircling the hub. and confined between the flanges to be axially insertable on the hub in the absence of the removable flange, said assembly being removable from its housing as a unit.

7. In a cable guide for the spooling drum of a an integral body adapted to extendsaxially .ofaucable to 085813001661 uponlsaid drum including spaced parallel'side members; :a pair ".of outwardly extending integrally formed roller enclosure housings joining'said side members and spaced longitudinally thereof; oppositelyextending supporting arms formedrigidly on said body projecting therefrom in a plane intermediately parallel to the planes of said side members, and; a' unitary roller assembly mounted within'each of said housings on an axis normal to-the plane ofsaid side members and saidsupporting arms; each of said unitary assemblies including a sleeve, axially spaced bearings on said sleeve, a hub carried on the:bearings and having an:integral-fiange at one end, a removable flange secured to'theother end of the hub,'aroller body ,encircling' the.=hub and confined between the fianges to 'be'axially'insertable on the hub inthe absence of theremovable flange, said assembly being:removablefrom its housing as a unit. '8. In a-cable guide for .the'spoolingcdrumiof a rotary drilling rig; an integral body adapted to extend'axially of a ca'bleto be spooled upon said drum, includingcontiguous pairs of spaced parallel side members forming an elongated. cylindrical-.oable enclosure having a longitudinal cable receiving passage; pairs of opposed outwardly extending integrally formed roller enclosure housingsjoining one pair of'said side members and spaced longitudinally thereof; a unitary roller assembly mounted within each of said housings the roller thereof extending into said longitudinal passage, and means mounting each unitary roller assembly for removal from its housing as a unit; -9. In a cable guide for the spooling drum of a rotary drilling rig; an integral body adapted to extend axially of a cable to be spooled upon said drum, including contiguous pairs of spaced parallel side members forming an elongated cylindrical cable enclosure havinga. longitudinal cablereceiving passage; a longitudinally extending slot defined by adjacent edges of oneof said sidemembers to enable the body to be applied laterallyof a cableto enclose a'portion'thereof within the longitudinal passage; pairs of opposed outwardly extending integrally formedroller enclosure housings joining one pair of said side members and spaced longitudinally thereof; a unitaryroller assembly mounted within each of saidihousings the roller thereof extending into said longitudinal passageand means mounting each-unitary roller assembly for removal from its housing'as a unit.

10. In a cable guide for the spooling drum of arotary drilling-rig; an integral body adapted to extend axially of a cable to be spooled upon said drum, including contiguous pairs of :spaced parallel side members forming an elongated cylindrical cable enclosure having a longitudinal cable receiving passage; pairs of opposed outwardly extending integrally formed roller enclosure housings joining one pair of said 'side members and spaced longitudinally thereof, pairs of opposed outwardly extending roller enclosure housings extending in a direction normal to the direction of said first mentioned pairs of housings; a unitary roller assembly mounted within each of'said housings the roller thereof extending into said longitudinal passage with the axis .Of'llh rollers of one set of opposed pairs of housingsright anguiarly related to the axis of the rollers of another 'set of opposed pairs of housings, and means mounting each unitary roller assemblyfor removal'from its housing as' a unit.

11. =In-a cable guide forthe spooling drum of a rotarydrilling rig; an integralbody adapted-to extend axially ofa'cable tobe spooled upon said drum, including contiguous pairs of spaced parallel .side members forming :an elongated cylindrical cable enclosurehaving a longitudinal cable' receiving passage; oppositely extending supporting arms formed rigidly on one pair of said side members projecting therefrom in a plane intermediately parallel to the planes of the other pair of side membersypairs of opposed outwardly extending integrally formed roller enclosure housings joining onepair of said side members and spaced longitudinally thereof; opposed pairs of outwardly extending roller enclosure housings extending from the other .pair ofsaid side members; a unitary roller assembly mounted'within each of said housings theroller thereof extending into saidlongitudinal passage, the rollers of one set-of pairs of opposed enclosure housings having' axes normal to the planes of one pair of side members'and said supporting arms, the rollers of the other set of pairs having axes normal to the rollers of the first mentioned set of pairs, and means for mounting each unitary roller assembly for removal from its housing as a unit.

12. in a cable guide'for the spoolingdrumof arotary drilling rig; an' integral body adapted to extend axially of a cable to be spooled upon said drum,v including contiguous pairs of spaced parallel side members'forming an elongatedv cylindrical cable enclosure having a longitudinal 'cable'receiving passage; a longitudinallyextending slot defined by adjacent "edges ofone of said side members to enable the bod to be applied laterally of a cable to enclose a portion'thereof within the longitudinal passage; oppositely "extending supporting arms "formed rigidly on one pair-of said. side members projecting therefrom in a plane intermediately parallel to the planes of the other pair of side members; pairs of opposed outwardly extending integrally formed roller enclosure housings joining onepair of .said side members and spaced longitudinally thereof; opposed pairs of outwardly extending roller enclosure housings extending from the other pair of side members, said pairs of roller enclosure housings including parallel upper and lower pairs of housings and intermediate parallel-pairs of housings extending in a direction-normal'to the direction of the upper and lower-pairs of housings and to the direction of extension of said supporting arms; a unitary roller assembly mounted wtihin each of said housings the roller thereof extending into said, longitudinal passage, and means mounting each unitary roller assembly for removal from its housing as a unit.

13. In a cable guide for the spooling drum of a rotary drilling rigyan integral body adapted to extend axially of a cable to be spooled-upon said drum, including contiguous pairs of spaced parallel side membersliorming anelongatedcylindrical cable enclosure having a longitudinal cable receiving passage; a longitudinally extending-slot defined by adjacent edges of one of said side members to enable the body to be applied laterally of a cable to enclose a portion thereof within the longitudinal passage; oppositely vextending supporting arms formed rigidly onone pair of said side members projecting therefrom in a plane intermediately parallelto the planes of the other pair of side members pairs of opposed outwardly extending integrally formed roller enclosure housings joining one'pair-of said side members and spaced longitudinallythereof; opposed pairs of roller enclosure housings extending outwardly from the other pair of side members, one of said pairs being integral with the side members and the other pair being removable said pairs of roller enclosure housings including parallel upper and lower pairs of housings and two intermediate parallel pairs of housings extending in a direction normal to the direction of the upper and lower pairs of housings and to the direction of extension of said supporting arms; a unitary roller assembly mounted within each of said housings the roller thereof extending into said longitudinal passage, each unitary roller assembly including a sleeve, axially spaced bearings on said sleeve, a hub carried on the bearings and having an integral flange at one end, a removable flange secured to the other end of the hub said resilient roller body encircling the hub and confined between the flanges to be axially insertable on the hub in the absence of the removable flange, and; means mounting each unitary roller assembly for removal from its housing as a unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 504,928 Matheson Sept. 12, 1893 599,122 Donohue Feb. 15, 1898 843,214 Juve Feb. 5, 1907 852,062 Holmes Apr. 30, 1907 1,968,321 Shope July 31, 1934 2,211,299 Smith Aug. 13, 1940 2,255,314 Graham Sept. 9, 1941 2,258,889 Graham Oct. 14, 1941 2,316,727 Thompson Apr. 13, 1943 2,480,488 MacClatchie Aug. 30, 1949 2,535,428 Kubiak Dec. 26, 1950' 

